General purpose presettable electro-mechanical combination safety lock device

ABSTRACT

A general purpose presettable electro-mechanical combination lock and safety device to replace locks on doors, safes and the like, and to prevent automobile thefts. The device comprises an electrically responsive lock or other electro-mechanical means which is commanded to operate by a preselected numerical combination of several digits in a sequential series through a presettable electronic circuit. The operation of the lock or electro-mechanical means is controlled by a presettable command circuit and activated by a numerical selecting means or by a bypass switch means, depending on the requirements of the protection desired.

United States Patent Fister 15] 3,663,867 [4 1 May 16, 1972 [54] GENERAL PURPOSE PRESETTABLE ELECTRO-MECHANICAL COMBINATION SAFETY LOCK DEVICE [72] Inventor: Louis P. Fister, 470 Lake Ave., St. Louis,

[22] Filed: Aug. 24, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 66,330

[52] U.S.Cl ..317/134, 317/139 [51] Int. Cl. ..H01h 47/22 [58] Field ofSearch ..3 l 7/l34; 200/4, ll, 42, 43, ZOO/61.93, I56

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,436,809 3/1948 Joel, Jr.l.... ..317/134 X 1,468,793 9/1923 Bessey, Jr. ..'..317/l34 7 66 a 7 6.5 .59 a 55 6/ 7f Z6 5/ 60 .51? if s;

3,093,994 6/1963 Richard ..317/134 UX Primary Examiner-William H. Beha, Jr. Assistant ExaminerHarry E. Moose, Jr.

AttorneyGravely, Lieder & Woodrufi [5 7] ABSTRACT A general purpose presettable electro-mechanical combination lock and safety device to replace locks on doors. safes and the like, and to prevent automobile thefts. The device comprises an electrically responsive lock or other electromechanical means which is commanded to operate by a preselected numerical combination of several digits in a sequential series through a presettable electronic circuit. The operation of the lock or electro-mechanical means is controlled by a presettable command circuit and activated by a numerical selecting means or by a by-pass switch means, depending on the requirements of the protection desired.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented May 16, 1972 .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R 5 7 m Mm W w iwfi /P. 6 mm U 0 L zlij% GENERAL PURPOSE PRESE'I'IABLE ELECTRO- MECHANICAL COMBINATION SAFETY LOCK DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The problem with current mechanical locks or burglary protective means is that keys can be lost or stolen, master keys are available to unauthorized individuals, or enough of the protective device is necessarily exposed so that it can be jimmied by unauthorized persons or professional thieves. In the case of homes and apartment houses, a change of occupants usually entails changing all exterior locks. Anti-theft devices for automobiles are easily by-passed once the system of the device is understood, because these devices have a set system of operation when once installed. All of the disadvantages attended upon the present varieties of key locks, combination locks and anti-theft devices are substantially overcome with the present invention.

BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION The general objects of the present invention are to provide a lock or safety device with a presettable digital combination for operating an electro-mechanical lock'and/or other anti-theft prevention means, to provide means wherein the owner may select any desired combination of as many digits as are thought necessary for security, to provide a device having a presettable sequence of operation of the digits which controls the operation of an electro-mechanical device, and to provide a lock and/or other safety means in which the operating combination is easily changed by an authorized person at any time through an electronic circuit programmer which is concealed from view whereby detection of the correct combination is rendered impossible.

An important object of this invention is to provide an electro-mechanical device to lock doors and safes, and especially to prevent automobile theft in which theelectro-mechanical device is operated by a presettable electronic circuit having a defined sequence of response. I

- Another object of this invention is to provide an electromechanical device which incorporates a resettable numerical sensing means to receive the output of the power supply, the input jacks of the presettable command circuit and to activate same.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an electromechanical device which incorporates an alternate sensing means to by-pass the programmed combination for operation of the device independently of the combination.

It is another object of this invention to provide an electromechanical device of the character stated above which incorporates an electrical supply to operate all circuits with a preselected voltage from an alternating or direct current power source.

A preferred embodiment of the invention incorporates a resettable combination selector and programmer, a combination command electronic circuit, an electro-mechanical lock device and/or safety means responsive to the making of the electronic circuits according to the selected combination, and means to by-pass the electronic command circuit when convenient to do so. In the electronic circuit, a plurality of relays are connected in such a way that each relay has a single normally closed contacts connected in series with the coil of the preceeding relay, whereby if any relay is energized not in the preselected sequence, that relay will make inoperable a preceeding relay. Consequently, the device will not operate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a door to a dwelling with the components of this invention shown in full and dotted outlines;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of an automobile in which the invention has been installed, and particularly illustrating its hookup with the ignition system thereof;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the presettable combination safety device, and particularly showing the several components thereof;

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a presently preferred form of the invention in which the resettable combination selector and programmer is shown in sectional elevation and the remainder of the components are seen in diagrammatic form for ease of understanding the wiring layout;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at line 5-5 in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of an alternate arrangement of the invention heretofore shown in FIG. 4, but in which certain features have been altered to illustrate advantages to be ob tained.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In FIG. 1, the invention is seen installed in a dwelling 10 having an entrance door 11 hinged at the left side and provided with a handle 12 by which the door 11 may be opened and closed. The conventional door locking bolt is removed and a socket 12 is provided in its place. The interior side of the right hand door jamb is suitably formed with a socket to receive the electro-mechanical device 14 having a normally extended bolt 15 which projects into the door socket 13 to secure the door against being opened. At a suitable place in the wall of the dwelling 10, a resettable combination selector and programmer unit 16 is installed with a numerical face plate 38 and selector knob 17 exposed to view by a person standing in front of the door 11. Adjacent the door 11 and within the dwelling 10, preferably near the resettable combination selector and programmer 16, are located the housing for a unit 18 which contains the presettable command circuit, and power supply 19. The unit 18 is connected by a suitable wiring cable 20 to the presettable combination selector and programmer 16, and by a similar wiring cable 22 to unit 19, and unit 19 is connected by a cable 23 to a by-pass switch 37, and by a cable 23a to selector and programmer 16. The bypass switch 37 is connected by a cable 24 to electro-mechanical device 14. Operation of selector knob 17 in the preselected combination sequence will actuate the electronic circuit in unit 18 to command the device 14 to withdraw the bolt 15 from socket 13 so the door 11 may be opened. After the person has opened the door 11, he has to pull selector knob 17 to reset the unit 18. After a person has passed through and closed the door 11, the unit 18 can be reset and the bolt 15 will return to socket 13 to again secure the door 11. The operation of the device 14 from inside is much easier. All one has to do is to turn on the by-pass switch 37 which will command the device 14 to withdraw the bolt 15 from socket 13 so the door 11 may be opened. After the door 1 l is opened, the person has to turn off the by-pass switch 37 to inactivate the device 14. When the person has passed through and closed the door 11, the bolt 15 will return to socket 13 to again secure the door 1 l.

In FIG. 2, the invention is shown installed in an automobile 25 as a theft prevention device. Only so much of the automobile 25 has been schematically shown as will suffice for a general understanding of the invention, In this installation, the resettable combination selector and programmer unit 16 is mounted on the fire wall 28 without the face plate 38 and selector knob 17 which are mounted on dashboard 26 through a flexible shaft 27. An electrical cable 29 is run from the resettable combination selector and programmer 16 to unit 18 which is located also on fire wall 28. The power source is the battery 30 which is connected to unit 18 by a cable 31. Also, the battery 30 is connected by an electric cable 32 to the resettable combination selector and programmer 16. The unit 18 is connected by an electric cable 33 to coil 34 and by another electric cable 35 to device 14, which is mounted at the side of the engine compartment to engage the hood (not shown) and prevent its being opened. The device 14 is grounded by electric cable 36 to the frame of the automobile The hood of the automobile is locked by the device 14 and it can be opened only by the resettable combination selector and programmer 16. The present device allows for different kinds of theft prevention means to be adopted under the hood. Thus, nobody can tamper. with such means in order to operate the automobile 25. The theft preventing means in FIG. 2 is the electric cable 33, which supplies the electric power to coil 34. Other theft prevention means can be an electrical valve (not shown) installed in the gasoline line which would cut ofi the gasoline supply to the carburetor when its coil is not energized. Here again the coil of the valve would be supplied with electric power through the unit 18. For both cases, the electric circuits in unit 18 must be made by operation of the selector knob 17 in the preselected combination sequence. Therefore, only a person in possession of the combination can start the engine or operate the automobile 25.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the combination lock and/or safety devices showing the general arrangement of the principle components. In the power supply unit 19, any convenient 110 V. AC source isconnected to transformer 39 to step the voltage down to 12 volts or any other required voltage. The transformer output is connected to a suitable rectifier 40 which converts the AC voltage to DC voltage. The rectifier 40 operates relay 41 of 12 V. DC range or a range compatible with the rectifier output. This rectified voltage also is connected to a normally open contact (not shown) of the relay 41. Also the output of an auxiliary DC. voltage source 42 is connected to a normally closed contact (not shown) of the relay 41. The reason for this double power source is that if the I V. AC source would fail, the 12 V. DC from the DC voltage source 42 would take over to operate the electronic circuits. The outputs of power supply 19 are connected by electric cables 43 and 46 respectively to the resettable combination selector and programmer l6 and to command circuit 18. A connection 44 is made between unit 16 and unit 18 and a connection 45 is made from unit 18 to the unit 14. Also, electrical cable 43 is connected by lead 72A through by-pass switch 37 and lead 47 to device 14 where the device is installed in a dwelling, but by-pass switch 37 is not generally needed for automobile installation. Furthermore, in the case of automobile installations, the car battery 30 (FIG. 2) will be used in place of the power supply 19.

Turning now to FIG. 4, details of the present device as it would be constituted for installation in a dwelling, such as shown in FIG. 1, are set forth in particularity. The wall 10a of the dwelling 10 is provided with an exterior face plate 38 for unit 16 on which is scribed or marked a plurality of numerals arranged in a circular pattern. In the present case, the numbers run in clockwise manner from I to 24 although any number may be 1 from the fewest number in the possible combinations available to many more than 24 numbers so that the selection of combinations is substantially infinite. The selector knob 17 is provided with a pointer 17a for rapid selection of the combination that has been selected. At the interior surface of wall 10a, a casing C encloses a mechanism in which a base plate P is supported by extending attachment rods 48 through the wall. On the outer ends of the rods 48, nuts 49 will hold the exterior face plate 38 in place. The rods 48 support a terminal plate 50 which constitutes a combination programmer that is a unit of the assembly and is, in this case for simplicity of construction, mounted spaced from the base plate P. A shaft 51 extends through the plates 38, P and 50 and is secured against axial movement by a suitable clip 52 at its inner end at terminal plate 50. The shaft 51 supports a rotatable sleeve 53 to the outer end of which the knob 17 is secured by a set screw 54. The inner end of sleeve 53 is formed with a disc flange 55 which carries an electrical contact arm 56 having a voltage pickup contact 57 at one end and a contact brush 58 at the other end which is directed toward the terminal plate 50. At the inner end of the disc flange 55 on sleeve 53 is a conductive disc 59 which is engaged on a step on shaft 51 and the disc 59 is held in position on the step by an insulator disc 60 and a coil spring 61 abuting the terminal plate 50. On the contact arm 56, there is a second conductive disc 62. The disc 62 is held against the contact arm 56 by a second coil spring 63 abuting on an insulated disc 64 at one end. The opposite end of spring 63 abuts the inner end of a position control arm 65 and the arm 65 is held against the base plate P by the spring 63. The arm 65 extends radially and is formed with a detent projection 66 which seats in a series of circularly arranged sockets 67 formed in the base plate P in positions matching the numeral positions on the exterior face plate 38.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the center apertures in the contact arm 56 and position control arm 65 are formed with a flat surface 68, and the sleeve 53 is similarly shaped so that rotation of the sleeve will cause the arms 56 and 65 to turn. Coil spring 61 is selected to exert sufficient force on the insulator disc 60 normally to hold the arm 56 with its brush contact 58 spaced from the terminal plate 50 and to overcome the counter pressure from coil spring 63. I

The terminal plate 50 (FIG. 4) carries a plurality of marked terminals 69 equal in number and circumferential location to the numerals on the exterior face plate 38. Each terminal 69 has a contact head 69A at the inner surface of the terminal plate 50 so that the contact brush 58 may make a circuit connection upon pushing inwardly on the knob 17 to compress coil spring 61. When not pushed, the knob 17 is returned to the out or extended position shown, but there is no intended loss of contact between the voltage pick-up contact 57 and the conductive disc 59. This disc 59 is not intended to rotate but the contact 57 sweeps over its exposed surface normally maintaining electrical contact. When, however, knob 17 is pulled to compress spring 63, the contact at disc 59 is broken so that the circuit system to be described will be interrupted so as to reset the circuits in a starting setup.

During rotation of knob 17, the detent projection 66 on control arm 65 glides into the depressions or sockets 67 in the base plate P, thereby providing a suitable feel at the knob 17 when the sleeve. 53 has been rotated sufficiently to align the contact brush 58 over a terminal head 69A. Simultaneously the pointer 17a will align with a numeral on the face plate 38. In this manner, the rotation of knob 17 will coordinate a numeral selection at the face plate 38 with a corresponding terminal head 69A, and the control arm 65 will cause the manipulation of the knob 17 to sense this result.

The positive side of the power supply 19 (FIG. 4) is connected by lead 72 to the conductive disc 59 and by lead 72A to by-pass switch 37. By-pass switch 37 is connected to device 14 by a lead 47. An alternate power supply may be connected to the conductive plate 59 by means of an emergency lead 723 directed from a connection on the conductive plate 59 through a central bore in the shaft 51 to a contact 73 located within and accessible through a central aperture 74 in knob 17. This auxiliary or emergency lead 72B and contact 73 has been provided in the event the power supply 19 would fail.

Still referring to FIG. 4, the present device includes the unit 18 which is enclosed in housing 75 schematically shown in broken line. The housing 75 encloses five relays, RI, Rll, Rlll, RIV and RV which are connected in parallel between leads 76 and 77. Lead 76 is connected to conductive disc 62 of selector unit 16 and to the positive lead 72 through the conductive discs 59 and 62 through arm 57. Lead 77 is connected from the negative side of power supply 19, and it also is connected to a rod 48 of the unit 16 by a lead 77a. The lead 77a electrically complements lead 72B so that in the event the power supply 19 would fail an emergency source of power can be applied to contact 73 and to nut 49. Each relay within unit 18 has a plurality of contacts, some normally open and some normally closed to satisfy the operational requirements.

In this embodiment, the relays are connected in the following way for the purpose of this invention.

In FIG. 4 the wiring set up in unit 18 is such that a normally closed contact R2 in relay R11 is connected in series with the holding coil C1 in relay RI, while a pair of normally open contacts R-l of relay R1 are in circuit with coil c-l so that when coil c-l is energized the contacts R-l will close and remain closed to make the first step in closing the series arranged contacts R-l to R5 in lead 76. The relay RIII has a normally closed contact R3 connected in series with the holding coil c-2 of relay Rll, while a pair of normally open contacts R2 of relay RII are in circuit with coil 02. This connection allows energization of holding coil c2 to close the contacts R2, thus making the second step in closing the series of contacts R1 to R5 in lead 76. Similarly, relay RIV has a normally closed contact R4 connected in series with the holding coil c3 of relay RIII which permits closing of normally open contacts R3 of that relay to make the third step in the series of contacts R-l to R5 in lead 76. In like-manner, relay RV has a normally closed contact R5 connected in series with the holding coil c4 of relay RIV'so that 'closing of nonnally open contacts R4 of relay RIV will makethe fourth step in the lead 76.

With this manner of connecting the relays RI to RV the combination programmed at unit 50 is made to work. Thus, when the first jack 78 is plugged in to contact 69 and the knob is turned and pushed so that the contact 58 makes with this particular contact head 69A voltage is applied through closed contact R2 to coil c-l of relay RI and the first normally open contacts R1 are closed. When the next jack 80 is put in electrical circuit voltage is applied through closed contact R3 to coil c2 of relay RII and the second normally open contacts R2 are closed, thus making the second step of the combination sequence. As the next jack 82 is put in circuit voltage is applied through closed contact R4 of relay RIV to coil c3 of relay Rlll, thus closing normally open contacts R3 to make the third step in lead 76. The next jack 84 in the sequence applies voltage through normally closed contact R5 to energize holding coil c4 of relay RIV, thus closing normally open contacts R4 of this relay to make the fourth step. Finally, jack 86 when in circuit energizes the holding coil 05 to close normally open contacts R5, thus making the fifth and final step of the required sequence. In each case the energizing of the holding coil in the next following relay will operate to open the normally closed contact of the preceeding relay so that the sequence of making the relay circuits is irreversible.

. It isnow apparent that jack 78 is connected by lead 79 to normally closed contact'RZ of relay RH and is in series with holding coil Cd in relay RI. Similarly, circuit connections are made from jack 80 through leas 81 to normally closed contact R3 in relay Rlll, from jack 82 to lead 83 and closed contact R4 of relay RIV, and from jack 84 and lead 85 to closed contact R5 of relay. RV. The last jack 86 is connected by lead 87 directly to holding coil of relay RV. Each holding coil c-l to c5 is thus put into circuit across leads 76 and 77, and in this sequential process the lead 76 is completed to lead 76A of the solenoid in unit 14.

This arrangement makes it electrically impossible to contact a number of the selected combination out of sequence. For example, a combination of five digits, numbered in sequence respectively ll, 5, 7, 23 and 3 can be selected. Therefore, the jacks 78, 80, 82, 84 and 86 are plugged into the cavities 70 of tenninals 69 numbered to agree with the selected combination respectively. To facilitate visual recognition of the programming of the combination beside the leads 79, 81, 83, 85 and 87 for the jacks 78, 80, 82, 84 and 86 can be color coded. In the selected combination relay RI corresponds to selected number 1 l, relay R11 to 5, relay RIII to 7, relay RIV to 23 and relay RV to selected number 3. If selected number 7, which is the third number of the selected combination is chosen first at the knob 17 and the knob is pushed to make contact through arm 58 at the contact 69 for that digit, relay RIII would make and would-stay energized through its pair of normally open contact R3 from lead 76. Consequently, normally closed contact R3 of Relay RIII which is connected in series with the coil c2 of relay RII would open and relay RII, which corresponds to the second selected number, 5, cannot be energized by knob 17. Thus every relay must be energized in proper sequence to close the pairs of normally open contacts R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5, one of which is connected in series in lead 76, to complete the circuit. Until this is accomplished the device 14 cannot be operated. Therefore, the knob 17 must be pulled to reset the relays in unit 18. Also, in unit 18, a sounding device B, such as a buzzer, is connected to leads 76 and 77. Its audibility will indicate when the combination is successfully completed. The operation of the by-pass switch 37 is required when a person operates the device 14 from inside the door 1 1. An alternate device 16A to that shown in FIG. 4 has been similarly shown in FIG. 6. Wherever possible, the same reference characters will be applied in order to avoid duplications. In this case, this alternate device 16A is installed in an automobile as a theft prevention device. In this arrangement, there is no need for by-pass switch 37, power supply 19 and buzzer B of unit 18A. Here the resettable combination selector 16A, programmer 50, and unit 18A deviates from the circuit arrangement shown in FIG. 4. The casing 92 of a flexible shaft 91 is fixed at one end to the firewall 28 by a locking means and at the other end to dashboard 26 of automobile 25 of FIG. 1 by another locking means 90A. The face plate 38 is spaced from dashboard 26 by spacers 95 and fastened to it by bolts 97. A movable shaft 93 extends through the casing 92 and face plate 38, and it is secured at one end to knob 17 by set screw 54. The other end of movable shaft 91 is secured in the cavity 96 of sleeve 53 by set screw 94. The rest of the unit 16A is fastened to the firewall 28 by rods 48 and nuts 98.

Housing 75 encloses unit 18A. The electronic circuit of unit 18A is the same as it is in FIG. 4 with the exceptions that here there is no buzzer B connected to leads 76 and 77 and a lead 99 is connected to lead 76 between the normally open contacts R4 and R5. Also, the circuits in unit 18A incorporate time delay devices, each of which includes a capacitor and resistor. Thus, closed contact R2 is connected in series with time delay TD,, contact R3 in series with time delay TD contact R4 in series with time delay TD and contact R5 in series with time delay TD,. The last relay RV has its lead 87 connected directly to time delay TD The time delay devices TD, to TD, are selected for values of the capacitors and resistances such that the time delay TD, has a greater time interval than TD, and so on for each, so that each preceeding time delay device establishes a time period greater than for the next succeeding device. The advantage of this arrangement is that if the jacks are all connectedtogether the coil C5 of relay RV will open normally closed contact R5 in series with relay RIV first and that will prevent the completion of closing all normally open contacts R1 to R5 in lead 76. This is especially useful when the installation is made in an automobile as it will prevent the hood lock from being actuated and no access can be had to the engine compartment.

It is not believed necessary to repeat the description of the relay circuit hook-up of FIG. 6 as the description for FIG. 4 will apply in all respects, taking into account that the time delay devices TD, to TD, are described above.

The Unit 18A is connected to the programmer unit 50 of unit 16A by leads 79, 81, 83, 85 and 87 and the respective jacks 78, 80, 82, 84 and 86 as it is seen in FIG. 4. The output leads 76a and 77a of unit 18A are connected to device 14 and lead 99 to the positive pole of coil 34. Also, a lead 100 can be branched from lead 99 for connection to a normally closed solenoid valve 101 if it is needed and would be grounded by lead 102 to the frame of the automobile. the device 14 would lock the hood and lead 99 will supply the coil 34 with electricity. Naturally, the original lead (not shown) which supplied the coil 34 with electricity must be removed. The normally closed solenoid valve 101 may be installed in a suitable valve controlling the gasoline line (not shown). To operate the automobile, the first four relays RI, RII, RIII and RIV must be energized by the resettable combination selector 16A and programmer 50 so that the coil 34 would be supplied with electricity and/or the solenoid valve 101 would open the supply valve to allow the gasoline to flow' to the carburetor (not shown). On the other hand, the valve In this arrangement,

101 cannot be by-passed, and the original lead cannot be connected back to coil 34 since the hood is locked by the device 14 and can be opened only by resettable combination selector 16A and programmer 50. The reason for lead 99 being connected between relay contacts R4 and R is so that the automobile can be operated normally without unlocking the hood by device 14 since the fifth relay RV has to be energized to operate device 14.

OPERATION OF THE DEVICE The operation of the lock device for a dwelling door (FIGS. 1 and 4) is obtained by first selecting the five digits of the desired sequence and combination (a lesser or greater number of digits may be provided by reducing or increasing the number of relays in the housing 75 as is now obvious). According to the selected sequence and combination, the jacks 78, 80, 82, 84 and 86 are plugged into the cavities 70 of terminals 69 corresponding to numerals ll, 5, 7, 23 and 3 respectively. In this example, the combination selected is ll-5-7-23-3. The proper voltage from the power supply 19 is applied so that the combination selector knob 17 is ready to be operated. The electro-mechanical device 14 is, of course, in locked position.

The knob 17 is now turned in any starting direction until the pointer 17a points in the direction of the first digit of the combination (numeral 1 l on face plate 38) and pushed in so the brush 58 will contact head 69A of terminal 69. Through jack 78 and normally closed contact R2, the coil c-l of relay R1 receives electricity and will be energized. Consequently, the normally open contacts will close and now the coil c-l will receive electricity from lead 76 through one of a pair of contacts R1 and the coil c-l will stay energized after the knob 17 is released so spring 61 will break contact between brush 58 and terminal head 69A. Now the first digit 1 l of the combination is completed. Next the knob 17 is turned in any direction until the pointer 17a points in the direction of the second digit (numeral 5 in this example on face plate 38) of the combination and is pushed to energize C2 of relay Rll in the manner just detailed for R]. Now the second digit, 5, of the combination is completed. Release of the knob 17 breaks the contact between brush 58 and head 69A so it may be turned to the third digit, 7, of the combination and again it is necessary to push in the knob 17 to energize relay R11] to complete the third digit, 7, of the combination. In like manner, actuation of knob 17 for the fourth and fifth digits, 23 and 3, respectively, of the combination will complete the sequential making of relays RI, Rll, Rlll. RIV and RV, thereby the normally open contacts R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 connected in series in lead 76 will be closed in proper sequence and lead 76a will receive electricity from lead 76. At this time, if the procedure has been correctly accomplished, the buzzer B will sound and the unit 14 will retract bolt to unlock door 11. Since the relays must be energized in proper sequence, taking a digit out of turn by the knob 17 the bolt 15 will not be retracted by unit 14. For example, if the third digit, 7, is selected first by knob 17 and the coil C3 of relay RIII is energized, the normally closed contact R3 would open, thereby making it impossible for the coil C2 of relay RII to get electricity so coil C2 cannot be energized. Consequently, one of the pair of normally open contacts R2 in series with contacts R1,R3,R4 and R5 will stay open so lead 76a cannot receive electricity from lead 76 and the unit 14 will not operate. Any mistake made on the first attempt calls for starting over again and this can be done by pulling out on the knob 17 to break contact between contact 57 of arm 56 and conductive disc 59, whereupon the coils of the relays will not be supplied by electricity through lead 76. As a consequence the relays will reset themselves to the starting condition shown.

If a person within the dwelling desires to open the door 11 to admit a caller, the by-pass switch 37 should be closed and the bolt 15 will retract to release the door. The door 11 can be locked by either pulling out on knob 17 or by opening the switch 37, depending by which device the door 11 was unlocked. The unit 14 may be a suitable solenoid device with sufficient strength to move the bolt 15. During turning of knob 17, the am 65 will provide the proper feel when the pointer 17a is correctly aligned with a numeral on the face plate 38 of unit 16. Any other five-digit combinations may be selected and programmed or the combination easily may be changed by the dwelling occupant periodically.

In the example shown in FIG. 2 for an automobile, only the knob 17 and face plate 38 of the resettable combination selector 16A is on the dashboard 26 and the remaining components are under the hood. The lock 14 used to secure the hood, lead 99 to supply the coil 34 with electricity, and valve 101 to allow gasoline flow are all in the engine compartment. in these examples, the safety features are the lead 99 and valve 101, and the purpose of the device 14 is to prevent tampering with lead 99 and valve 101. Here again the selected combination must be made by the resettable combination selector 16A through programmer 50 to make the automobile operable. As in the examples disclosed, if only one digit ofzi combination is made out of sequence, the unit 18 must be reset by pulling out on knob 17 before another attempt is made.

While certain examples of the operation, programming, make-up and utility of the combination lock and safety device have been set forth, this invention has many applications and any desired number of digits in a combination may be made available.

The foregoing description sets forth presently preferred embodiments of the improvement which fulfills the objects of the invention. Having now described the invention it is to be understood that modifications may come to mind such as the application of integrated and other suitable circuitry which accomplished the same or a similar purpose as the circuitry herein disclosed.

What is claimed is:

l. A combination lock device including a source of voltage, an electrically actuated locking unit activated to unlocked position by electrical voltage flow, a combination selector and programmer having a plurality of contacts corresponding to all digits of predetermined combinations and being operable to select a predetermined number of said electrical contacts in a predetermined combination corresponding to the sequence of digits making up the combination and to bring electrical voltage to said contacts, and combination command circuit means operably connected between said locking unit and said combination selector contacts of the digits in the combination to pass electrical voltage to said locking unit (upon the sequential closing of said electrical contacts in the sequence of the digits of the combination), said command circuit means having a plurality of relays with the first and last relays in the combination sequence having a pair of normally open contacts and the remainder of said relays having at least one normally closed contact and at least two normally open contacts, contact actuating coil means in each relay connected in parallel with said voltage source, one of said normally open contacts for each relay being connected in series with the locking unit, and said normally closed contact of said remainder of said relays connected in series with the actuating coil means of a relay one digit ahead in the sequence of digits, making up the combination, whereby the supply of voltage to a contact actuating coil out of the sequence of digits of the combination serves to open the normally closed contact of a preceeding relay.

2. The combination lock device of claim 1 wherein said combination selector and programmer includes a rotary brush contact arm movable to engage individual ones of said plurality of contacts to select the predetermined digits of the combination, said rotary brush contact arm also having a current pick-up arm normally in voltage flow making position and movable to break contact for resetting said relay contacts to normal positions.

3. In a manually manipulated electrically responsive combination lock device, a combination programmer having a plurality of contacts from which digits of the combination are selectively predetermined, a plurality of command circuits each having an individual voltage input connection to the predetermined contacts of the combination selected from said programmer, (a plurality of contacts) each command circuit including relay means connected to each voltage input and each relay including at least two normally open contact, and a holding circuit for closing'one of said open contacts, said holding circuits being in parallel and the others of said normally open contacts being related electrically in series to provide a voltage output for the lock device (and each connected into one of said command circuits to establish voltage output), circuit means interconnecting said holding circuits of said relay means such that the closing of said normally open contacts must occur in sequence of the digits of the combination for actuation of the lock device (means in certain of said command circuits less than all electrically operative to disable a predetermined command circuit and break the sequence of the predetermined combination and prevent establishment of a voltage output), and a source of voltage for said command circuits.

4. In a resettable electro-mechanical combination anti-theft device, a locking device, an unlocking combination selector unit, a combination programmer unit having a group of contacts from which a predetermined unlocking combination is selectable, said selector unit having a contact arm movable from a normally open position to make contact with each contact of said group of contacts in said programmer unit making up the order of the predetermined unlocking combination, a group of electrical relays equal in number to the digits of an unlocking combination, each relay having an operating coil and a pair of normally open contacts, and said relays having a normally closed contact in one less than all of said relays, said relays being electrically connected with said normally closed contact of one relay electrically connected in series with the operating coil of a preceeding relay in the order of said group of relays so that said relays are energized in the order of the predetermined unlocking combination, jack means connected to each relay and selectively engageable with the programmer unit contacts in the order selected to determine the unlocking combination and establish electrical circuits between said programmer unit and said relays, said relays having a normal starting position with said normally closed contacts closed and said normally open contacts open, a source of DC voltage having its positive terminal connected to said selector unit and its negative terminal connected to said relay coils in parallel relation, electrical connections between said relays and said locking device, one of said electrical connections containing one normally open contact of each relay connected in series relation, and combination operating means carried by said selector unit to move said contact arm to engage in turn each contact of said group of contacts making up the selected combination to activate the electrically connected relay in turn and effectively close said normally open contacts and open said normally closed contacts, said operating means being movable to a position breaking electrical connection of said contact arm with said DC voltage source to allow said relays to assume the starting positions.

5. A presettable, resettable, electro-mechanical combination safety lock device having an electrically actuated lock device which is activated to an unlocked position by the completion of a circuit thereto and comprising: a source of direct current; a plurality of relays each having a coil and the several coils being connected in parallel to one side of said direct current source; a plurality of contacts corresponding to the digits of a predetermined combination which will activate the lock device; a contact selector movable relative to said contacts to move into and out of engagement therewith; means connecting the other side of said direct current source to said contact selector; contact jacks connected with each relay and selectively engageable with said plurality of contacts to predetermine the sequence of relay actuation for the combination required to effect activation of the lock device' and each said relay having normally open and normally closed contacts, with the normally closed contacts in series with said contact jacks so that opening of a normally closed contact out of the predetermined combination sequence will render the activating combination for the safety lock device irreversible.

6. In an electro-mechanical combination safety lock device the improvement comprising: a source of DC voltage; a combination selector and programmer having a plurality of contacts making up the combination, a brush contact movable to make contact selectively with predetermined ones of said plurality of contacts and means connecting said brush contact to one side of said voltage source; command circuit means including a plurality of relays equal in number to the digits of a combination, means connecting each relay to a predetermined one of said plurality of contacts of said combination selector and programmer, circuit connections in said relays to energize each relay from a succeeding relay, and each relay having a first normally open contact connected in series and a second normally open contact connected in parallel with the other side of said voltage source; and a lock device connected in series circuit with said first normally open contacts and in circuit with said other side of said voltage source, whereby the energization of each relay in the predetermined selected order of the combination serves to close said second normally open contacts to progressively hold said relays energized and progressively close said first normally open contacts to complete the circuit to said lock device; 

1. A combination lock device including a source of voltage, an electrically actuated locking unit activated to unlocked position by electrical voltage flow, a combination selector and programmer having a plurality of contacts corresponding to all digits of predetermined combinations and being operable to select a predetermined number of said electrical contacts in a predetermined combination corresponding to the sequence of digits making up the combination and to bring electrical voltage to said contacts, and combination command circuit means operably connected between said locking unit and said combination selector contacts of the digits in the combination to pass electrical voltage to said locking unit (upon the sequential closing of said electrical contacts in the sequence of the digits of the combination), said command circuit means having a plurality of relays with the first and last relays in the combination sequence having a pair of normally open contacts and the remainder of said relays having at least one normally closed contact and at least two normally open contacts, contact actuating coil means in each relay connected in parallel with said voltage source, one of said normally open contacts for each relay being connected in series with the locking unit, and said normally closed contact of said remainder of said relays connected in series with the actuating coil means of a relay one digit ahead in the sequence of digits, making up the combination, whereby the supply of voltage to a contact actuating coil out of the sequence of digits of the combination serves to open the normally closed contact of a preceeding relay.
 2. The combination lock device of claim 1 wherein said combination selector and programmer includes a rotary brush contact arm movable to engage individual ones of said plurality of contacts to select the predetermined digits of the combination, said rotary brush contact arm also having a current pick-up arm normally in voltage flow making position and movable to break contact for resetting said relay contacts to normal positions.
 3. In a manually manipulated electrically responsive combination lock device, a combination programmer having a plurality of contacts from which digits of the combination are selectively predetermined, a plurality of command circuits each having an individual voltage input connection to the predetermined contacts of the combination selected from said programmer, (a plurality of contacts) each command circuit incLuding relay means connected to each voltage input and each relay including at least two normally open contact, and a holding circuit for closing one of said open contacts, said holding circuits being in parallel and the others of said normally open contacts being related electrically in series to provide a voltage output for the lock device (and each connected into one of said command circuits to establish voltage output), circuit means interconnecting said holding circuits of said relay means such that the closing of said normally open contacts must occur in sequence of the digits of the combination for actuation of the lock device (means in certain of said command circuits less than all electrically operative to disable a predetermined command circuit and break the sequence of the predetermined combination and prevent establishment of a voltage output), and a source of voltage for said command circuits.
 4. In a resettable electro-mechanical combination anti-theft device, a locking device, an unlocking combination selector unit, a combination programmer unit having a group of contacts from which a predetermined unlocking combination is selectable, said selector unit having a contact arm movable from a normally open position to make contact with each contact of said group of contacts in said programmer unit making up the order of the predetermined unlocking combination, a group of electrical relays equal in number to the digits of an unlocking combination, each relay having an operating coil and a pair of normally open contacts, and said relays having a normally closed contact in one less than all of said relays, said relays being electrically connected with said normally closed contact of one relay electrically connected in series with the operating coil of a preceeding relay in the order of said group of relays so that said relays are energized in the order of the predetermined unlocking combination, jack means connected to each relay and selectively engageable with the programmer unit contacts in the order selected to determine the unlocking combination and establish electrical circuits between said programmer unit and said relays, said relays having a normal starting position with said normally closed contacts closed and said normally open contacts open, a source of DC voltage having its positive terminal connected to said selector unit and its negative terminal connected to said relay coils in parallel relation, electrical connections between said relays and said locking device, one of said electrical connections containing one normally open contact of each relay connected in series relation, and combination operating means carried by said selector unit to move said contact arm to engage in turn each contact of said group of contacts making up the selected combination to activate the electrically connected relay in turn and effectively close said normally open contacts and open said normally closed contacts, said operating means being movable to a position breaking electrical connection of said contact arm with said DC voltage source to allow said relays to assume the starting positions.
 5. A presettable, resettable, electro-mechanical combination safety lock device having an electrically actuated lock device which is activated to an unlocked position by the completion of a circuit thereto and comprising: a source of direct current; a plurality of relays each having a coil and the several coils being connected in parallel to one side of said direct current source; a plurality of contacts corresponding to the digits of a predetermined combination which will activate the lock device; a contact selector movable relative to said contacts to move into and out of engagement therewith; means connecting the other side of said direct current source to said contact selector; contact jacks connected with each relay and selectively engageable with said plurality of contacts to predetermine the sequence of relay actuation for the combination required to effect activation of the Lock device; and each said relay having normally open and normally closed contacts, with the normally closed contacts in series with said contact jacks so that opening of a normally closed contact out of the predetermined combination sequence will render the activating combination for the safety lock device irreversible.
 6. In an electro-mechanical combination safety lock device the improvement comprising: a source of DC voltage; a combination selector and programmer having a plurality of contacts making up the combination, a brush contact movable to make contact selectively with predetermined ones of said plurality of contacts and means connecting said brush contact to one side of said voltage source; command circuit means including a plurality of relays equal in number to the digits of a combination, means connecting each relay to a predetermined one of said plurality of contacts of said combination selector and programmer, circuit connections in said relays to energize each relay from a succeeding relay, and each relay having a first normally open contact connected in series and a second normally open contact connected in parallel with the other side of said voltage source; and a lock device connected in series circuit with said first normally open contacts and in circuit with said other side of said voltage source, whereby the energization of each relay in the predetermined selected order of the combination serves to close said second normally open contacts to progressively hold said relays energized and progressively close said first normally open contacts to complete the circuit to said lock device. 